Bellanca 7ECA accident near Concord, California, March 4, 1994
On March 4, 1994 at about 6:38 pm local time, a Bellanca 7ECA, registered N5038M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Concord, California (Buchanan Fld airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING A TOUCH-AND-GO LANDING. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LIMITED EXPEREINCE IN TAILWHEEL AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 4, 1994 · about 6:38 pm local time
- Place
- Concord, California · Buchanan Fld
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7ECA · all 7ECAs on the register
- Registration
- N5038M · registry record · serial 1290-79
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD JUST COMPLETED A 5-HOUR DUAL INSTRUCTION PERIOD IN TAILWHEEL AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT SAID HE HAD NO PRIOR TAILWHEEL AIRPLANE EXPERIENCE. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS ON HIS EIGHTH TOUCH-AND-GO PATTERN OPERATION AND LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT VEERED TO THE EDGE OF THE RUNWAY AND THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE OVER- CORRECTED SOMEWHAT. THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER STRUCK THE RUNWAY SIGN AS THE PILOT ADDED POWER TO TAKEOFF; THE COLLISION BENT THE STABILIZER. AS THE AIRCRAFT BECAME AIRBORNE, THE PILOT FELT THAT IT WAS UNCONTROLLABLE AND HE SET IT BACK DOWN ON THE RUNWAY IN A CRAB. ON TOUCHDOWN, THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 431 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 376 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,785 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 22, 1993; 37 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-K2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Buchanan Flying Club
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32R, 4,601 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:38 pm from CCR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.